Penobscot Bay PressCommunity Information Services

News Feature

Deer IsleOriginally published in
Compass, August 8, 2013
Seamark to celebrate 25th anniversary

On Wednesday evening, August 14, Seamark Community Arts will host a birthday party celebration with sweets and bubbles at the Seamark Building in Deer Isle, organizers announced in a news release.

There will be donated cakes and art objects for a small and special silent auction. This night coincides with Deer Isle Village art gallery openings and will take place from 2 to 7 p.m.

Seamark, under the leadership and artistic direction of Holley Mead, was founded in 1988 to support arts education on the Island and in surrounding communities. It has flourished over these 25 years, and, under the directorship of several others: taught hundreds of local and visiting students at summer workshops, supported art appreciation classes at the schools, Island Arts Camp and special experiences at local studios and community events. Over the past two years, it has expanded its outreach to the elders on the Island—holding biweekly art sessions at the Nursing Home supervised by local artists. The elders of the Island Nursing Home will continue to benefit from the established art classes through the ongoing support of the Nursing Home.

Much of Seamark’s work has been made possible by the hard work and dedication of dozens of volunteers through the years and the generous support of many loyal and committed donors—small and large—and partnering organizations such as The Reach Performing Arts, Opera House Arts and the Deer Isle-Stonington Schools. Seamark has made an indelible mark on a now well-established culture of art education for young and old thanks to these partners as well as the local artists on the Island who have seen the value of spreading different forms of art into education and life and donated many of their prized works and skills.

Seamark has raised funds to support its mission through the years with its annual drive and spirited special and community events. These have included theme-based auctions of trays, birdhouses, chairs and others, decorated and donated by local artist supporters. The nine annual Men Who Cook events have become highly successful and very well attended. The cooks and diners alike anticipate this annual March event—often described as the best community activity over the winter months! The newest venue is Art on a Line—featuring food cooked by the prize winning Men Who Cook and donated artistic works displayed on clotheslines.

Now, Seamark has made a small tack in its efforts—to support workshops directly sponsored by artists in their studios rather than being the host of its summer classes. Its continuing mission with youngsters in the schools—both with art appreciation sessions as well as stipends to fund artists to be involved with students in their classrooms—has never faltered and continues to be well-received by educators and learners alike.